Service Records

[Haitian_King]

So, I found myself with some extra time today after my last class of the semester. I called ICA and got my service history read to me.

*Edit* Got the service faxed over today. (12/7)

11/26/91 - Car was purchased by Sharon Meyers.

12/02/91 - @ 35 miles, My Q passed NY State Inspection, Q45PDI, Install ACT Wheels.

10/01/92 - @ 2206 miles, "Check Tach Inop--Needle lays all the way past 8" Oil changed.

10/29/92 - @ 2600 miles, "CK Battery Low or Weak\No Start"

11/18/92 - @ 3197 miles, "Replace Center Dash Pieces\Damaged By Dog. Replace Console Pieces."

8/02/93 - @ 5802 miles, "Roadside Tow-In, Check For No Start. Replace Rear Seat Map Lights, and Recharge Battery. Map Light Buttons Jammed in On Position, Causing Battery to Have Low Output."

8/30/94 - @ 7503, "Scheduled 7.5k/6 month Maintenance. Rotate and Balance All 4 Tires and Reset PSI. Logbook Updated."

8/15/95 @ 10,200 miles, "Install Cooler Kit Recall", "Install Transmission Cooler Kit." General Maintenance Inspection. Perform 11,250 M/S. Stop Lamp Inop Is On. Found Socket Melted \ Short Circuit. Replace Left Rear Tail Light Pack.

8/29/95 @ 10,642, "Vehicle Locks Itself. Found Right Front Door Actuator Jammed\Stuck. Install New Actuator.

2/27/98 @ 14,999, "Perform 15k Service. Found Front Right Shock Leaking. Install New Right Front Shock.

6/23/98 @ 15,863, "Client States Grinding Sound When 1st Started. No Problem Found At This Time.

11/19/98 @ 18,157, "General Maintenance Inspection. Perform 18,750 Mile Service. Client States Pinging Sound On Right Side Of Engine. No Problem Found At This Time. Client Stats Traction Control. Found Right Rear Tire Low On Air. Refill and Check System.

1/07/99 @ 18,799, "Q45 BOSE TSB ITB98-056. Perform Speaker Amp. Campaign.

And that's where the records stopped.

I inquired about chain guide replacement and ICA showed nothing like that was done, at least not at the dealership. So I'm still in the dark on that one.

Looks like an auxiliary ATF cooler was already installed. Way beack before they were fashionable it seems.

Now I don't know what to do. My trans is getting worse. Today it was either going through first gear slowly, or giving me tire shredding acceleration at each intersection. I'm going to try swapping ECU's and putting my second gear start back in and I'll see what happens. I was feeling really good about the service record until I saw that the last known record stopped at 1999 at 18k. I bought the car In January of 2007 with 83k on it. What the hell happened between 99 and 07? Apparently 65k miles and not a hint of service.

Anyone with anything helpful to say, it's appreciated.

What's the BOSE Amp Campaign? And ACT Wheels?

Modified by Haitian_King at 8:29 AM 12/7/2007
Modified by Haitian_King at 9:50 AM 12/7/2007

[qship96]

well,the car was no longer under the powertrain warranty,so it was serviced somewhere other than a Infiniti dealer-common,but unfortunatly unless records were left in glovebox,you are left wondering as to how the car was maintained.

[Haitian_King]

Not to be rude, but "Duh."

I know, I'm in the dark about those missing 8 years/65k miles. There were no records in the glovebox and the Carfax showed it passing inspections.

What to do about my problem with the transmission though?

[qship96]

Have you actually taken the car to a qualified infiniti tech for a diagnosis yet? It may be a electrical as opposed to a mechanical issue?

[Haitian_King]

No, I'm just enjoying ripping out my hair and stressing over the problem.

If you'd like to sit in for me at school and cover my shifts at work, I'd be more than happy to take it to Van Meter's.

Or better yet, point me in the direction of a 24 hour shop helmed by an Infiniti Tech. My schedule often frees up after normal business hours of the shops.

Anyone. Something helpful? I'm swapping ECU's and TCU's tomorrow. I won't be able to hit Keith's until next week (Last final is on Thursday). If a miracle happens, maybe this Saturday.
Modified by Haitian_King at 8:31 AM 12/7/2007

[Q451990]

What would be helpful at this point? We've been through about three transmission threads now...

The fact that an ATF cooler was installed indicates that your transmission was serviced at some point. There was a campaign that involved either replacing or flushing transmissions and adding that "cooler" which I think was nothing more than a tube with a few fins on it near the pan.

Either way, if it's slipping - you can either try flushing and replacing the filter, or wait for total failure and replace it with something else...

Heath

[Haitian_King]

I got the flush and filter change.

I spent about $320 on the transmission so far. (Fluids + Filters) And it's still problematic. I've exhausted every possible option through the FSM. I don't know what to to do next. How badly can trans be damaged in 65k miles?

When I say helpful, I mean something that will actually work. Not something that's been said and done already. What I'd really like is to know EXACTLY wtf the problem is. Can anyone do that? Algebraic equations, formulas, and cryptic acronyms just aren't helping.

I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. I have a problem and it seems that it's unfixable.

I talked to my friend last night. He used to have a J30. I described the problem and he said that his J30 behaved the same way before it died. He sold the car and never found out the reason for the problem.

Waiting for total failure? It has 89k on it and has been flushed and has someof the cleanest fluid this side of Texas. Total failure might happen in a couple of years. I don't want to drive around with a crappy shifting trans for that long. And i refuse to undo all the effort that I've put into it by purposely sabotaging it.

Does ANYONE have any idea on how to get the Warranty company to cover this. My 12 month Powertrain expires on the 17th of January. I'd like to get some use out of it.

[Q45tech]

How badly damaged in 89k vs how badly damaged in 17 years!

Exactly how many shift cycles has the transmission completed?

They are only tested for 100,000. That can be 55k,100k, 150k or 200k miles depending on shifts per mile!

I've never had a transmission that I didn't replace in 7 years [first one 5 years 50k*, second one at 7 years 185k*, 3rd [current] one has 5 years and ~~80k.

There is a reason warranties have years and or mileage.

Low annual high traffic mileage is 2-3 times worse than high highway mileage every year.

* first 5 years I lived 4 miles from work + plus few expressway trips more than 20 miles, the next one was driven back and forth to NC weekly 700-1000 miles per week 6 months on then off.

The 2nd unit was sold to a customer for $500 and lasted 3 years, so it actually functioned for 10 years and 185k + 33k or 218k but I flushed it 6 times and ran Mobil 1 Syn ATF with a external cooler and JWT 1st gear start =====which the new owner didn't buy or flush or maintain.

I spent about $2000 maintaining the transmission during the 7 year I had it.

I spent a penny per mile and he spent about 3 cents per mile on the used unit.

That's the rub with buying used, if you get 30,000 miles from a JDM takeout and the process cost $1000 vs buying Nissan remanned which we know will last 100,000 miles^ yet cost 3-4 times more initially.

^With proper mqinteqnce they can go 185k but you will spend another few thousand on flushes, mainteance, 1st gear start etc.

[Haitian_King]

If I can get another 30k miles for $1000, that's not bad. Certainly not at this point.

[Q45tech]

Probably a third to half of used cars are traded because they need a new transmission! Owners find out the unit costs $3-$4 thousand installed and dump the sled. The sucker next buyer or the used lot/auction buyer fixes the problem either with a reman or a cleaned up used unit from junkyard.

When cars have a rapid sucession of being flipped from owner to owner you know serious expensive things are needed.

Now that I've found the MASTER GERMAN transmission rebuilder in US and can get any of them for under $2,900 wholesale [even V12 MB/BMW]..........these 5 speed AT cars used scare me less!

Just have to reserve $7,000 for mistakes vs $6,000 for an Infiniti or Lexus.

[Haitian_King]

I'd like to have this probvlem resolved before the middle of January. Starting today.

How can I do this in a quick and painless way, and not have use various parts of my anatomy as currency? I need my Warranty Company to take this.

[Q451990]

What has the warranty company told you?

Heath

[elwesso]

HK, im going to be very frank with you, dont take this the wrong way..

1. You have not provided us any really useful data.. Your qualitative analysis is helping us about as much as we can help you.. Remember, we can only go off what you're telling us.

I dont recall if you did the trans self diagnosis, im thinking you did?

What you need to do is find someone who knows what theyre doing and have them drive the car. Doesnt even have to be a pure trans guy, just someone who is ONE with the cars... Im fairly confident that if I drove the car I could tell you what it is...

2. Its not like all of a sudden someone is going to be able to answer your question... We've been beating a dead horse, and continuing to visit this problem isnt going to fix it. We are missing some VITAL information that possibly due to your knowledge level (no offense) are not able to provide to us. not your fault, but its the fact of the matter....

As a couple other notes, the trans likely does not have an external cooler. The TSB included adding a radiator with twin heat exchangers (like the 94)...

Im sure during those 65k miles the car only got oil changes...

Heres a suggestion.. Borrow a digital video camera from someone and take a video of what the car is doing (speedo/tach). That will suffice for now, make sure it has good sound...

[Haitian_King]

HK, im going to be very frank with you, dont take this the wrong way..

1. You have not provided us any really useful data.. Your qualitative analysis is helping us about as much as we can help you.. Remember, we can only go off what you're telling us.

I dont recall if you did the trans self diagnosis, im thinking you did?

What you need to do is find someone who knows what theyre doing and have them drive the car. Doesnt even have to be a pure trans guy, just someone who is ONE with the cars... Im fairly confident that if I drove the car I could tell you what it is...

2. Its not like all of a sudden someone is going to be able to answer your question... We've been beating a dead horse, and continuing to visit this problem isnt going to fix it. We are missing some VITAL information that possibly due to your knowledge level (no offense) are not able to provide to us. not your fault, but its the fact of the matter....

As a couple other notes, the trans likely does not have an external cooler. The TSB included adding a radiator with twin heat exchangers (like the 94)...

Im sure during those 65k miles the car only got oil changes...

Heres a suggestion.. Borrow a digital video camera from someone and take a video of what the car is doing (speedo/tach). That will suffice for now, make sure it has good sound...

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING!

Countless times, I've said that I wish there were NICO Q owner's closer to me. All the other Q dirver's around my way blow. They don't know ANYTHING about the car or it's value/capabilities.

I've done the self diagnosis 3 times. The first time I got Code D. That's because the battery was disconnected when it was on the dealer's lot. Cleared the code. Ran the diagnostic twice more in the follwoing weeks. I got an OK message both times. Ruling out electrical issues, I've come to the conclusion of a mechanical problem.

I'm telling you all I know. Short of making a major motion picture, I have no new info.

What sort of Vitals are you looking for? Maybe if I knew what to look for, I'd be able to tell you. Asking me how many flushes I've done doesn't help.

What has the warranty company told you?

Heath

Their policy is that the service claim cannot exceed Blue book value. they only cover $55/hr for labor. The claim must be approved before the car is serviced otherwise they won't cover it. The one transmission specialist I took it to for a free diagnostic told me to be careful in how I word the claim, so that it doesn't denied. After a road test, he told me that I have clutch chatter and a burnt band. (This meant absolutely nothing to me.)

I haven't had a moment to spare to bring to car to Keith. I tried to get in touch with him to rundown the symptoms to see what he could come up with, but he's been dodging my calls.

I'm looking for the best way to get my problem fixed as well as not letting my extended warranty go to waste.

[AlabamaDan]

For about $400 you could fly Elwesso out to look at it!

[qship96]

Have you actually taken the car to a qualified infiniti tech for a diagnosis yet? It may be a electrical as opposed to a mechanical issue?

Have a friend,family member,girlfriend,neighbor,classmate,etc agree to pick you up at Van Meters or infiniti dealer after you have made an appointment and left car for them to professionally diagnose the transmission-cant take more than a few hours,then they can take you back later the same day to pick up car with the status report! hurry before your warranty expires!!! This is THE ONLY way to figure out your problem....we cant diagnose over the internet nearly as well as a professional can in person....

[Haitian_King]

I'm going to try to synchronize schedules with someone, or just stay with the car. How long would it take? The road test and other stuff. I had asked before and the receptionist told me that it's $85/hr. Totally didn't answer the question.

[maxnix]

8/15/95 @ 10,200 miles, "Install Cooler Kit Recall", "Install Transmission Cooler Kit."

Looks like an auxiliary ATF cooler was already installed. Way beack before they were fashionable it seems.

Not at all. This was a little finned line done as part of early recalls before 1994+ dual heat exchangers and external ATF filters were OEM.

[Q45denver]

Just do a few brake stands until the transmission gives out then have it towed to the nearest transmission shop that takes your warranty for replacement with a factory rebuilt unit.

[Haitian_King]

Oh. Thanks Brian. I guess I'll still install the B&M one.

[Haitian_King]

Just do a few brake stands until the transmission gives out then have it towed to the nearest transmission shop that takes your warranty for replacement with a factory rebuilt unit.

And when the warranty company sends an agent out to inspect it and finds that it was damaged by deliberate abuse and decide to deny the claim, will you fork the cash over?

Didn't think so. Brake stand on your face.

Not being mean. Lo Siento.
Modified by Haitian_King at 8:18 PM 12/8/2007

[mtcookson]

Brake stand on your face.

Please don't attack other members like that. Whether he was or wasn't joking it was pretty funny plus it probably wouldn't be likely that they could tell that's what happened. Regardless though, please try to refrain from negative comments like that. It only causes problems and makes you look rude. Thanks!

[Haitian_King]

I'm sorry. I meant it to be humorous. Has anyone seen the movie "Benchwarmers"? There's one scene where a bully tells Rob Schneider to dance, and he replies "I'll dance on your face!"

I apologize. I didn't mean for it to sound like an attack. Brake standing on someone's face? That's just rude.

Guess I should have put a smiley there eh?

[RAP]

Hmmm...

Must be hell to not have dinero and wanting to live like one that does???

I suppose the quote "if you can't afford to fix the car you can't afford to own the car?" or, words to that effect.

Seems like "critical thinking" is part of the the college experience, or, so I am led to understand?

Lo siento

[Haitian_King]

Hmmm...

Must be hell to not have dinero and wanting to live like one that does???

I suppose the quote "if you can't afford to fix the car you can't afford to own the car?" or, words to that effect.

Seems like "critical thinking" is part of the the college experience, or, so I am led to understand?

Lo siento

Ah. Ever judging.

I shelled out the cash early in ownership for things like this. Why buy a warranty and still come out of pocket? Wouldn't it best to put it to use? Try thinking about that one critically Jack. Doesn't seems too smart now is it?

You don't even have a G50. What are you talking to me for?

[Q45tech]

Most shops I know refuse to deal with extended non Nissan warranties because the are just a costly pain to deal with.You have to wait on the inspector then tear down and wait on inspector to come back to look, the wait on plan administrator to decide.Then they try to nickle and dime your hours and where you buy parts often sending junkyard parts 2 weeks later and wanting you to use them. Lifts and space gets tied up for weeks/months.

Most classy shops just refuse the business.

Nissan won't take a disassembled AT with parts in a box outside the case so no core credit.

[Haitian_King]

So Keith won't do it? I wish I had known about the Nissan extendeds. The dealer was a Great Lakes Warranty agent. Damn it.

http://www.greatlakeswarranty.com/Powertrain.pdf

A copy of my warranty. Is it any good Tech? I'd like to know so that when it comes time to renew, I go somewhere else. Can I still pick up a Nissan one? Or does it have to be purchased at Point of Sale?

[Q45tech]

The preexisting conditions and wear and tear parts list including transmission solenoids exclusions are interesting.I'm amazed that they say until 120k without a 10 year limit.

It appears that a full mechanical failure like broken gear or exploded transmission case might be covered [things that almost never happen]. Trannies almost always fail in a wear and tear manner as you are currently describing. Never perfect one day and absolutely nothing the next.

It appears they sold you something that might be nearly impossible to collect on.

Did your attorney study the document before you signed?

If the transmission shifts or engages moves forward and reverse it has not failed yet. There is no provision for not acting brand new ...... that is wear and tear.

[Haitian_King]

No. No attorney, just my padre and myself. So is this thing useless? Or is it able to be used in my case? Before anything worse happens or the policy expires?

How can I get them to cover it? I'm sure you've had to deal with companies like this before. Were you successful? Could you give me some advice on how to deal with this company?

I really hope I can get this. I'm calling the dealership where I bought it and I'm going to ask for a history.

These are the jerks I bought it and my MDX from: http://www.importspecialists.net

[Q45tech]

I think 2001 was the last time we had an aftermarket warranty come in for a Q. That company went bankrupt while the car was being repaired..........we had the car sitting 7 weeks before the customer could pay the bill.

Most smart shops don't release the car until after the warranty check has cleared.

How much did you pay for warranty $1200, $1500, $2,000?

Remember a aftermarket sercice company cannot stay in business after they pay sales commission, overhead etc if they even pay out half the cost on every contract..............lots of people have to get zero for the scheme to work.